What can I tow?

Thousands of younger drivers are risking a fine of as much as £1,000 and up to to six penalty points on their licence simply because they don't know how much they can legally tow.

Anyone who passed their driving test after January 1, 1997 has been been given a B licence which imposes tighter restrictions than the B+E licence which was previously issued. But according to Luke Bowdidge, manager of Trailer Training UK, “often the first time drivers are made aware of this is when things go wrong on the road, or at a roadside police check”. So, what are the restrictions and what do you need to do to upgrade to a B+E licence?

If you passed your driving test before 1997, you’re entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight (Maximum Authorised Mass, or MAM) of up to 8.25 tonnes.

By contrast, if you passed after that date and haven’t taken the separate B+E towing test, you are limited to a MAM of 4.25 tonnes if the trailer weighs 750kg or less, or 3.5 tonnes if the trailer weighs more than 750kg. In practice, this means a young driver towing a family caravan behind a mid-sized 4x4 may well be breaking the law.

Credit:Andrew Crowley

The cost of the B+E towing test is £115 on a weekday, and £141 during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Credit:Joe Giddens/ PA

When you take the test you are required to bring along your photocard driving licence, a car that’s taxed, MOT’d, insured and capable of reaching 62mph, and a trailer that weighs at least 1 tonne – you may be asked for evidence of this, such as the manufacturer’s plate.

Credit: Alamy

You must also bring an extra rear-view mirror (for the examiner) and L plates.

Credit:Tom Begley

Both manual and automatic cars are allowed, but as in the regular driving test, if you pass on an auto, you will only be qualified to drive this sort of vehicle.

Before you start the driving ability part of the test, you’ll be asked five vehicle safety questions. These are known as the “show me, tell me” questions, because you’ll have to show the examiner how you’d carry out a vehicle safety check, or explain to them how you’d do it.

You’ll also be asked to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres if it’s a vehicle with a new-style plate, or 20.5 metres if it has an old-style plate.

Once on the road, you’ll be asked to drive in various road and traffic conditions, which could include dual carriageways, one-way systems and motorways

You’ll also be asked to do around 10 minutes of independent driving.

You’ll have to show that you can manoeuvre your car and trailer in a restricted space and stop at a certain point.

And finally, you’ll be asked to uncouple and couple your car and trailer to prove you can do it safely.

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